Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 4 / Trend T.Konyayeva /
Pakistan hopes for a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through the mediation of various international organizations, Pakistani Ambassador Abdul Hamid told journalists.
"Our position with regards to Azerbaijan remains the same. We support Azerbaijan in the resolution of the conflict, as we are well aware of this problem," he said at a press conference devoted to the day of solidarity between the peoples of Pakistan and Kashmir on Feb. 5
Pakistan, he said, was one of the first countries to recognize Azerbaijan's independence, and lobbied for the adoption of the first resolution on Nagorno-Karabakh in the U.N.
Relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan are at a very high level and continue to develop, Hamid added.
"On Feb. 5 we celebrate a day of solidarity between the peoples of Pakistan and Kashmir. I want to draw parallels between Nagorno Karabakh and Kashmir. You have a good understanding of the Kashmir issue, because a similar story occurs in Azerbaijan - the violation of international law by Armenia, its failure to comply with U.N. resolutions, the occupied territories, the violation of human rights, a huge number of refugees," he noted.
For this reason, Pakistan and Azerbaijan support each other in various international venues, he said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
The question of Kashmir has remained the most acute and intractable conflict in India-Pakistan relations over the past 60 years. The tense situation continues to this day, accompanied by periodic attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, the capture and killing of hostages, and armed clashes along the Indo-Pakistan border.